The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
This week, the White House celebrated Women's Equality Day, the National Park Service celebrated its 98th birthday, and President Obama addressed the American Legion, the nation's largest veteran service organization.
This week, the White House celebrated Women's Equality Day, the National Park Service celebrated its 98th birthday, and President Obama addressed the American Legion, the nation's largest veteran service organization.
Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.
Women's Equality Day
This past Tuesday, the White House celebrated Women's Equality Day -- commemorating the certification of the 19th Amendment on August 26, 1920, securing women's right to vote. Although we've made a lot of progress in the decades since, there is still much work to be done.
RT if you agree: It's time to ensure #EqualPay for women → http://t.co/Gl6KNF4mnc #WomensEqualityDay pic.twitter.com/LBld03iKOX
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 26, 2014
Throughout the day, White House economist Betsey Stevenson also took over the popular "I Love Charts" Tumblr blog to tell the story of the progress we’ve made in closing the earnings gap between women and men, and the challenges women still face in the workforce. See her charts here.
Our National Parks Turned 98
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service to formally protect and preserve America's beautiful lands, so people all over the world could experience our country's historic beauty and heritage for years to come.
Last yr, people visited our #NationalParks more than 273 million times & saw beauty like this: http://t.co/vAGGHKwF9q pic.twitter.com/rA8E5GHDEb
— Paulette Aniskoff (@PAniskoff44) August 25, 2014
Take a glimpse at what the National Park Service has been working to preserve for 98 years, and follow the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior on Twitter to see more of what makes America so beautiful.
Our Moral Obligation
President Obama traveled to Charlotte, NC on Tuesday to address the American Legion and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our veterans from every corner of the country and every generation.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the American Legion's 96th National Convention at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 26, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The President noted how his Administration has been working with the Legion to fulfill our moral obligation to today’s generation of service members when they come home:
The bond between our forces and our citizens has to be a sacred trust, and that for me, for my administration, upholding our trust with our veterans is not just a matter of policy, it is a moral obligation.
The Economy Continues to Grow
A new report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis yesterday showed that U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) increased at a 4.2 percent rate in the second quarter of 2014. The report affirms that second-quarter economic growth was strong -- consistent with the recent string of solid job growth and improvements across other economic indicators.
Good news: Our economy continues to grow. 2nd-quarter GDP = ↑ 4.2% Consumer spending = ↑ Business investment = ↑ http://t.co/CmLhpoRyvY
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 28, 2014
But we still have to do more to build on this momentum. That's why the President is continuing to act on his own to encourage investment in American manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure, and to help improve the financial security of our nation's working families.
The Economy, Iraq, and Ukraine
At the White House yesterday afternoon, President Obama provided an update on important issues ahead of his attendance at the NATO Summit in the United Kingdom next week.
The President first talked about the American economy, noting that it's growing "at a stronger clip" than predicted, and that we have more work to do to continue this momentum. He then discussed the current U.S. operations in Iraq, reiterating his commitment as Commander-in-Chief to "always do what is necessary to protect the American people and defend against evolving threats to our homeland."
President Obama concluded his statement addressing the situation in Ukraine, noting that the evidence is clear: "Russia is responsible for the violence in eastern Ukraine."
